Global Car Sales Rise 7%

New-car sales grew 7% worldwide to about 7 million units in February compared to the same period in 2016, according to WardsAuto.com. Sales through the first two months grew 5% to 14.5 million vehicles.

Growth in January-February was led by Asia Pacific (+8% to 7.1 million units). Two-month totals in other major markets were mixed. Volume expanded 5% to 2.9 million units in Europe, but the growth rate slowed to 1% in February. North American sales fell 1% to 3.0 million. In South America, new-car deliveries grew 6% to 558,000 units on gains in Argentina and Chile.

Wards says China now represents 28% of the global car market compared with 21% for the rest of Asia Pacific, 21% for North America and 20% for Europe.